The two men, both Christians, were discussing the differences in outlook that can arise between folks of the same faith, when the faithful are divided by a rolling, mighty ocean.

“I asked if believers in the U.K are as obsessed with sexual identity and politics as their American counterparts,” says Madeira. “He said, ‘No, mate, the scandal to us is that people are hungry.’ ”

That conversation stuck with Madeira, the son of a conservative Baptist minister and the producer and prime songwriting force behind a new compilation album called Mercyland: Hymns for the Rest of Us. It’s an album of faith for uncertain spirits, a conversational collection based on the inclusive premise that God is love, and that love is more easily conveyed by kindness, attention and good deeds than by dogma and direction.

“I’m not trying to convert anybody to anything,” he says. “I’d like to believe there’s something out there bigger than myself. With each artist on this album, I’d say, ‘I’m not asking you to declare any particular belief, I’m just asking if you’d like to participate in the conversation.’ ”

The trip to Europe is their first tour overseas. They'll reschedule shows in Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, The Netherlands and Turkey. The news release says new dates will be announced next week.

The Southern Gothic folk duo has charted one of the more interesting courses to fame, winning fans like Taylor Swift before taking two Grammys in February for best folk album and best country duo/group performance.

After years of first-time, big-name headliners (Eminem, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica), Radiohead and Phish are among Bonnaroo’s first returning headliners: Radiohead last performed at Bonnaroo in 2006, and Phish came in 2009 (though its individual members have been frequent visitors). Rick Farman of Bonnaroo co-producers Superfly Productions said organizers were excited to bring them back.

“In many ways, they’re really a huge part of the fabric, and in some ways the lore of Bonnaroo,” he said.

“When Radiohead played in ’06, for them just being on the bill, and for the performance they put in, it was a very transformative moment for the festival.”

Swift, who received harsh criticism after her pitchy performance with Stevie Nicks on the 2010 Grammy Awards, was one of Nashville’s top winners at the 54th Grammy Awards, propelled by her No. 1 country hit “Mean.” With lyrics including “Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me, and all you’re ever gonna be is mean,” the song was inspired by the critical backlash following the ill-fated duet.

“It’s always going to mean the world to me, the idea of getting to go the Grammys,” Swift said as she accepted her first trophy for “Mean” during the awards show’s pre-telecast. “But, this one means a lot to me. There’s really no feeling like writing a song about somebody who is really mean to you and someone who really hates you, and then winning a Grammy for it.”

She performed a bluegrass-infused version of the song during the telecast, subbed in the words, “Someday I’ll be singing this at the Grammys” and earned a standing ovation.

Swift won two golden gramophones over the course of the show: Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Mean.”

LOS ANGELES - Like a grade school play or a high school graduation, even the music industry’s most seasoned performers must rehearse before the big day – especially when that day is Sunday’s 54th annual Grammy Awards.

The arena is dark and empty except for a few members of the press, production crews and padded folding chairs labeled with large white pieces of paper bearing the photos and names of the famous people who will sit there on Sunday night.

Aldean and a stand-in for his duet partner Kelly Clarkson performed his hit “Don’t You Wanna Stay” four times with a couple of run-throughs complete with set and light changes.

About halfway through his rehearsal, Swift walked in and watched from the seats as she waited for her turn on stage.

Long-time Campbell fans, the Band Perry performed “Gentle on My Mind.” Shelton couldn’t make the rehearsal so the stand-in from the night before sang Shelton’s song during his portion of Campbell’s tribute. Campbell performed “Rhinestone Cowboy” as pictures of him early in his career flash overhead.

“Wow, that’s a good song,” Campbell commented when he was finished. “I wish I had fourteen more of them.”

Click to see a gallery of images from the Civil Wars concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 12, 2012 (this photo: Jeanne Reasonover/The Tennessean).

Rapidly rising folk-pop pair the Civil Wars - featuring Nashville's Joy Williams - have been added to the performer roster for Sunday night's Grammy Awards. The duo is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Folk Album.

The Civil Wars weren't the only addition to the lineup, of course. Rock legends the Beach Boys will be reuniting at the show as well, just in time for their 50th anniversary. Here's the full scoop from the AP:

The duo has been nominated for best folk album and best country duo/group performance, two categories that bear little resemblance to each other. Fellow nominees run the spectrum from Kenny Chesney to Eddie Vedder to Gillian Welch and Fleet Foxes.

"We kind of had a little bit of a grin between the two of us and our team as well about that, too," Williams said. "I think it's fun the fact that we can't be pigeon-holed into one or the other. That's just fine with us."

"We're going for best dance recording next year. We're going to do a dubstep record," White joked.

The truth of the matter, though, is they don't have time to record an album right now.

The Civil Wars were one of music's underground success stories of 2011. The pair of hard-working, long-toiling solo artists joined together as a songwriting partnership and found the next step in their performance careers. Championed by Taylor Swift, Adele and dozens of other artists, it's been a nonstop acceleration as they continue to sell copies of their 2011 debut album "Barton Hollow," tour the United States and Europe, and collaborate with artists they never would have expected.